North America: Pacific Slope drainages from Nass River in British Columbia, Canada to Rogue, Klamath and Columbia River drainages in Oregon, Idaho, Nevada and Wyoming, USA; Bonneville basin in south Idaho, west Wyoming and Utah, USA; Peace River system (Arctic basin) in British Columbia and Alberta, Canada. Introduced into upper Missouri River basin ni Montana and Colorado River drainage in Wyoming, Utah, Colarado and Arizona, USA.

Biology
Glossary
(e.g. epibenthic)

Inhabits runs and flowing to standing pools of headwaters, creeks, and small to medium rivers as well as lakes and ponds. Usually found over mud or sand, often near vegetation (Ref. 5723, 86798). Forms schools (Ref. 1998). Fry feed on diatoms, copepods, ostracods, and other small planktonic and demersal crustaceans (Ref. 1998). Diet changes to terrestrial and aquatic insects, algae, mollusks, fish eggs (including their own), and small fishes like other redside shiners, other minnows, and trout (Ref. 1998). Preyed upon by mergansers, loons, and mink (Ref. 1998).

Adults move into spawning streams in the afternoon and evening. Spawning occurs as one female and one or two males thrash violently side by side for a few seconds. Fertilized eggs adhere to gravel and vegetation on the bottom.